Apparatus for flattening and leveling sheet coil, and plate material



1941- F. K. MAussNEsT 2,252,085

PLATE MATERIAL APPARATUS FOR FLATTENING AND LEVELING SHEET, COIL, AND

Filed-Oct. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 1941- F. K. MAUSSNEST APPARATUSFOR FLATTENING AND LEVELING SHEET, COIL, AND PLATE MATERIAL Filed Oct.6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,zos 4a INVENTOR APPARATUS FOR FLATTEG iiiLEVEL- Application ()ctober 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,558

(Ci. 153-=-54l 15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for flattening and leveling sheet,coil, and plate material in machines of the roller leveler type.

The conventional types of roller levelers have their upper and lowerstraightening or working rolls sustained by suitable supporting orbackingup rolls which are in contact with the straightening rolls andabsorb the working load created by the work material passing in betweenthe cooperating upper and lower straightening rolls, usually arranged'instaggered order.

It has been found that cylindrical supports such as rolls for thestraightening rolls are subject to certain limitations and to defects inoperation. The diameters of the backing-up or supporting rolls can notbe made much larger than the straightening rolls when the supportingrolls are arranged to back their respective straightening rolls oversubstantially the entire width which is desirable because the smallerthe straightening rolls can be made for a certain range of gauges, thebetter the straightening result will be.

The diameter of the supporting rolls is limited because these backingrolls are located successively between two straightening rolls and wouldtouch each other if increased much above the' size of the straighteningrolls. This limits the bearing size which in turn determines the life ofthese bearings and the maximum permissible operating speed.

A: further shortcoming of cylindrical supports for the straighteningrolls is that friction with the straightening rolls is employed torotate these backing-up rolls. This friction between straightening rollsand supporting rolls to rotate the latter, results in slip between thesurfaces of both sets of rolls, so that the highly finished surface ofthe straightening rolls is marked. This in turn will cause marks on thesheet ma.- terial which is to be straightened.

The marking of the straightening roll surfaces partly is caused duringthe time the straightening rolls are rotating without work material inbetween them. When no working load is on the straightening rolls, thepressure between the straightening rolls and supporting rolls is smalland consequently the friction is usually insufii- 'cient to cause thesupporting rolls to rotate.

When work material is fed in the straightening rolls, the supportingrolls must be accelerated practically from zero speed to the speed ofthe straightening rolls. This requires a definite period of time,depending on the speed of rotation of the straightening rolls and on thepressure existing between straightening rolls and supporting rolls.During the time interval of acceleration, the supporting rolls must ofnecessity slip on the straightening rolls, causing further marking ofthe latter. The above described acceleration cycle of the supportingrolls takes place every time a new sheet enters the machine. The markingeffect obviously increases with increase in speed and on the other hand,the danger of marking diminishes with decreased operating speeds.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide supportsfor the straightening rolls which are not cylindrical but planar topermit provision of any size bearing for absorbing the load regardlessof straightening roll diameter.

It is a further object to drive these planar supporting surfaces insynchronism with the straightening rolls to prevent these rolls frombeing marked.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to synchronize thelinear speed of the planar supporting surfaces with the circumferentialspeed of the straightening rolls.

These and other objects which will be pointed out in the specificationand especially in the attached claims, I attain by means of my inventiondisclosed in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional front view of the new roller leveler along linel-l, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view showing the machine lengthwise alongline 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the plan of part of the bottom section of the rollerleveler on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of one of the movableplanar supports and its mounting elements.

Fig. 5 depicts a series of carrying elements shown partially in sectionon line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional front view of a modifrl ciad bottom section ofthe leveler on line 6-6.

Fil ig. '7 is a side view of the bottom section of Fig. 8 is part of atop. view of the sectionshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of a number of upper and lower straighteningrolls.

Fig. 10 illustrates a plan view of the variable drive for the supportingplates 01 the straightening rolls.

In referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the roller leveler shown comprises a lowerbase section I and an upper detachable section 2. The base 3 of sectionI is formed by two leg members 4 and I which may be joined by and beintegral with a heavy cross beam 6. The upper surface of this beam isprovided in a lengthwise direction with shoulders I, on which restsmoothly finished races or running surfaces 8. These races are preventedfrom shifting by taper pins 9 or other suitable means.

On each of the races 8 rests a series of carrier rolls l0, supported ontheir necks I i by ball bearings i2 in bearing supports l3, l4, Figs. 4and 5. Two each of the bearing supports l3, l4, are

riveted to, or fastened by other suitable means to respective planarsupports l5, I6, whereby the bearing support I3 is made to carry orhouse two ball bearings I2, while the bearing support [4 straddlessuitable shoulders H of support l3 and is partly rotatable on theseshoulders. While the designs shown are proposed with double row ballbearings, it will be understood that any other type bearings may beselected such as for example bronze bushings, oilless bearings, rollerbearings, pin bearings, etc.

The interconnection of the plurality of bearing supports i3, i4, withtheir respective support plates l5, It, forms a chain-like orconveyor-like structure of supporting plates, which, as shown in Fig. 2,act as a belt or endless band i8, driven continuously over race 8. Whileresting on this race, these supporting plates form one continuouslymoving, endless planar surface.

The plate support l8 may be rotated in either direction by sets ofsprocket wheels I9, 29, which engage support rolls in and are mounted onrespective shafts 2|, 22, rotatably held in base 3. Sprocket shafts 2|,22, are provided with oneway clutches at one of their ends. Fig. 1 showsfor instance one-way clutch 23 at end of shaft 2 I.

The operation of these clutches will be explained and described later. I

The two leg members 4 and have fastened to their top surfaces respectivestraightening roll supports 21, 28, in which are rotatably held a seriesor a bank of lower straightening rolls 29. These rolls are substantiallyevenly spaced and their location in height is such that they will reston the smooth surfaces of the conveyor-like supporting plates i5, Hi. Inorder to properly adjust the height of the straightening rolls relativeto their supporting plates, shims 30 may be placed underneath the rollsupports 21, 28.

The opposingly located edges or borders 3i of 'the supporting plates,resting against each other while traveling past the straightening rolls29, may not be at right angles to their outer edges 32, but oblique tosame, as well as to the longitudinal axes of the straightening rolls, asshown in Fig. 3, so that the adjacent edges of the supporting plates,when passing a straightening roll, will contact the latter on pointsonly, but never along the entire line of the oblique edges, thusinsuring an even and smooth action regardless of relative positions ofstraightening rolls and supporting plates.

The upper section 2 of the roller leveler is guided in suitable mannerin a set of guide plates 25, Fig. 2, mounted on the straightening rollsupports 21, 29, or forming an integral part with same. This uppersection comprises upper straightening roll supports 31, 33, having abank of upper straightening rolls 39. It will be'noted that the upperstraightening rolls 39 are arranged in staggered order with respect tolower straightening rolls 29, thus subjecting he work material passingthrough to waves or corrugations.

The upper straightening roll supports are held connected to the upperframe structure 40, provided with a cross beam 4| for supporting theplanar supports 42. These endless bands, which are identical to thelower supporting mechanisms l8, may differ, as far as number of separatesupporting bands are concerned, from the lower planar supports. By wayof example, the lower half of the machine is shown with three separatebands I8, each band having its own distinct set of comparatively narrowplates l5, IS. The upper half of the leveler is shown with a series ofwider supporting plates 43. Each of the plates 43 is held by three setsof bearing supports 44 in a row to absorb the working pressure. More orfewer bearing supports or a multiplicity of narrow supporting plates maybe arranged as desired or required. One wide supporting plate 43 isshown for the upper roll bank to demonstrate that the conveyor-likestructure may be designed in any desired way, either with one supportingplate clear across the entire length of the straightening rolls, or thesupporting structure may be subdivided into two or more separatesupporting structures. The choice of the proper number of separate bandswill depend on the prevailing conditions, thickness of material, speed,desired method of straightening roll deflection, and so forth.

The upper movable section 2 may be supported in known manner by threadedspindles l1 and hingedto the lower roll supports 27, 29. Worm wheels 48,in mesh with worms 49 may be provided on shafts 50 for adapting the rollopening to the thickness of material to be straightened. Helical springs5| may be provided to counterbalance the weight of the upper framestructure to facilitate height adjustment and tilting of the entireupper structure by means of hand wheels 52 on shafts 50. Several designsfor the height adjustment and tilting of the upper straightening rollbank with their supporting means are known in the trade and any one ofthese designs may be used in connection with the new planar,conveyor-like .supporting mechanism disclosed, because the design of theheight adjustment and tilting ofthe upper roll bank does not form a partof the present invention.

Those parts of the upper section 2 which are identical to those of thelower section I have received like numerals with a prime mark attachedto same to shorten the description and make its reading simple and morecomprehensive.

To operate the roller leveler, the lower chainlike supports it and theupper conveyor-like supports 42 are each rotated by a power drive 58shown in Fig. 10. This power drive 55 may comprise a reversible electricmotor 59 connected to a conventional variable speed transmission 51,such as for instance an adjustable V-belt drive of known design. Anyother suitable power drive such as variable speed hydraulic equipment,or individual motor drive for each spindle 90, 60', 6|, 6 I may beemployed, or the drive for the planar supports may be combined with thedrive for the upper and lower straightening rolls. In the arrangementshown, the driven pulley 59 of the transmission is connected by suitablemeans, such as gearing (not shown) to shafts 50, 60', 6|, 9!. Obviously,lower shafts 60, 6|, will rotate in opposilte direction to upper shafts60', 3|, respecive y.

Shafts 60, 6|, 30', 6| are provided with suitable universal couplings.Fig. 10 shows the couplings 62' and 63' on upper shafts 2|, 22',respectively, which drive the respective one-way clutches 23, 24'.One-way clutch 24' will couple shaft 22' and drive-spindle 88 when thelatter revolves in counterclockwise direction. Should spindle 88' bedriven in clockwise direction, shaft 22' will not be driven positively.The opposite action takes place between spindle 6| and shaft M,respectively. Similar conditions prevail as far as lower shafts 88, 81,are concerned. If, for instance, the electric motor drives shaft 88 inclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 10, its one-wayclutch will engage for operation and drive the supports l8 in clockwisedirection as seen in Fig. 2. Then shaft 6|, while rotating in the samedirection as shaft 68, will bedisengaged from the sprocket shaft 2| dueto the one-way action of the "one-way clutch 23 and consequently shaft2| is free to idle.

If the direction of the electric motor is reversed, shafts 88, 6|, willthen rotate in counterclockwise direction. Clutch 23, therefore, will bein positive engagement and will drive-the support l8 also incounterclockwise direction, while oneway clutch on shaft 88 remainsdisengaged. The type of drive shown is of the simplest design and isonly intended to demonstrate how the series of planar supports may bedriven to obtain always a pull on the conveyor-like belts in theoperating direction, at the same time permitting variation of the speedof the supporting bands to synchronize the same exactly with thecircumferential speed of the straightening rolls. As is known, thestraightening rolls of roller levelers have to be dressed or regroundfrom time to time and obviously some mechanism must be provided to varythe speed either of the supports or of the straightening rolls, in orderto maintain a free rolling action of the straightening rolls on thesupporting plates. It is realized, however, that this drive problem maybe solved in a great many different ways, and if the operating speed ofthe leveler is slow and hence the period of acceleration short withconsequent less danger of marking the straightening rolls, theconveyor-like supporting bands may even be moved by frictional contactwith the straightening rolls instead of being separately driven.

The lower straightening rolls 29 and their cooperating upperstraightening rolls 39 have at their respective driving ends universalcouplings 85 and 85' which are connected to respective drive spindles 68and 88'. Both sets of shafts are rotated at the same speed by aconventional power drive (not shown) which may consist of gear box,speed reducer, and prime mover such as motor.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '1, the mechanism shown comprises amodification of the lower base section of the roller leveler described.The purpose of this modified base section is to provide a simple andeffective means of utilizing the planar supports for flexing thestraightening rolls, whenever the mill shape of a sheet is to becorrected for rendering the sheet level.

The selection of the shape of the flexed working contour of thestraightening rolls depends on the distorted condition of the sheet,coil, or plate to be straightened. Certain types of material requireconvex straightening roll contours, others concave contours oracombination of both. By way of example, Figs. 6 and '1 show apparatusfor convex and concave straightening roll deflection, but obviously thedesign illustrated may easily be adapted to other deflection contours.

The lower section 18 comprises a base 1| having two leg portions 12, 13,integral with a crossbeam 14 which has two race supports 18, 18,sustaining each a planar supporting mechanism 18 which is similar tothose previously described. Each planar supporting mechanism 18 has aseries of interconnected links 19, provided with rotatable carrier rolls88. Above these rolls and at right angles to same, each link carries aswivel pin 8| and a swivel plate 82 which serve the purpose to sustainthe working load exerted on the planar support by the straighteningrolls when a sheet is passing through them. Each swivel plate is limitedin its lateral movement by stop members 84 integral with link 19. p

- Straightening rolls 83 are rotatable in bearing blocks 85 which mayhave curvilinear supporting surfaces 88 engaging and resting on likesurfaces of vertically movable pillow-blocks 81. The latter are slidablein pairs of uprights 88, 89 forming a part with the respective legmembers 12, 13. The pillow blocks are guided by suitable gibs or plates98, fastened to these uprights, and may be raised or lowered by twopairs of adjusting screws 9!, held rotatable in base 11. These screwshave each a worm-wheel 92 engaging in pairs the worms 93 which are fastto a regulating shaft 94, provided with a hand wheel and rotatable insuitable bearings 96 on base H.

In addition to the endwise located worms 93, shaft 94 carries a thirdworm 93' which engages a pair of worm wheels 92' of which each wormwheel is fast to an adjusting screw 9! held rotatable in the cross-beam14. The thread or each screw9l engages a vertically displaceablesupporting race 91, slidable in and guided by suitable brackets 98. Onthe supporting race rests a planar supporting structure 18 identical tosupporting mechanism 18. The several series of planar supports aredriven by sprockets 99, I88, fast to respective shafts I81, I02, tobedriven in the manner previously described.

The third worm 93' on shaft 94 has its thread cut in a directiondifferent from those of the two end worms 93. so that during a rotationof this shaft by handwheel 95, the vertical movement of thepillow-blocks 81 will be in the opposite direction to the centrallylocated supporting race 91. Hence, if the pillow-blocks 81 are movedfrom their neutral location in Fig. 6 in a downward direction, theplanar support 18' will be raised so that the straightening rolls 83will be deflected into a convex contour. The degree of deflection willdepend on the amount of adjustment given by rotating hand wheel 95 moreor less.

If the pillow-blocks 81 are raised, the middle planar supportingmechanism 18' is lowered and the straightening rolls 83 will assume aconcave formation, when work material passes through the leveler. Thetraveling swivel plates 82 are free to oscillate so that they will fullysupport the straightening rolls regardless of their shape or degree ofdeflection.

Therefore, the modification of the lower section of the supporting bandtype leveler discloses by way of example how the straightening rolls maybe subjected to either convex or concave deflection contours, whilebeing backed-up by moving planar supporting surfaces.

The upper roll bank for the modified lower section just described hasnot been shown and may consist inone single full width supporting bandor sectional arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. The uppersection would be adjustable in height and tiltable as previouslydescribed.

Fig. 9. showing a crow section of respective upper and lowerstraightening rolls ill. and Ill. depicts spacer bars I" which arelocated in the spacings between each successive straightening roll.These spacer bars may be partly conical in cross-section to seatthemselves against the circular surfaces of the straightening rolls. Thespacer bars may be made in such lengths as to cover substantially theentire length of the straightening rolls or the spacer bars may besubdivided as illustrated in Fig. 6, where three short spacers areprovided for, each straightening roll. Each spacer is held against itsrespective straightening roll by suitable springsiill, Fig. 6, and thesprings may be anchored in pairs on compensating levers liil, pivoted onangle bars ill. The springs located at the ends of the two outer barsare fastened to ,angle bars "2. Bars Ill and H2 are fastened to suitablebrackets 3 on the frame of the machine.

The spacer bars ill serve two distinct purposes. One is to prevent thework material from being wrapped around a straightening roll. This mayoccur when high pressure is exerted on the work material and when theopening between the lower and upper bank of straightening rolls is madevery narrow.

The other reason for employing spacer bars I is to prevent horizontaldeflection or bowing of the straightening rolls in the direction thework material will travel. The spacer bars will maintain thestraightening rollshorizontally straight and at each end of each rollbank, auxiliary rollers I are provided to give each roll bank additionalsupport against horizontal defiection. The rollers I are freelyrotatable in a rigid cross bar Ill, secured to the frame of the machine.Any number of individual rollers Ill may be arranged, depending on thewidth of the machine and on the straightening roll diameter employed.

Instead of using rollers for the horizontal support of the straighteningrolls, properly shaped blocks may be used as shown in Fig. 2, so thatthe end rolls of each roll bank will slide directly on horizontalsupport bars 8.

The movable supporting band type leveler as disclosed, while having allthe advantages of the conventional type roller levelers, does not,

' however, possess the defects of the latter. Marking of thestraightening rolls and consequently of the work material may beeliminated by driving the planar supporting surfaces in synchronism withthe straightening rolls. The surfaces of the supports touch eachstraightening roll on a line and in a manner, whereby a radius of eachroll extending from this line is substantially normal to the area ofsaid surfaces.

Instead of taking power away from the slim straightening rolls, as inthe case of supporting rolls, the driven planar supports rather help inthe rotation of the straightening rolls. This is of vital importance,because one of the chief limiting factors in selecting the smallestpossible straightening roll diameter. for a given sheet thickness is thehorse power transmitting capacity of the straightening roll necks.Hence, in the conveyor type leveler, the full power transmitted by thestraightening roll necks may be utilized for useful work on the sheet.

It will be evident from the-aforegoing description that the conveyortype leveler solves also completely the problem of load carryingcapacity of the supporting mechanism. While serious limitations existedpreviously as to rigidity of escapes 5 support as well as hearing size.the supporting mechanism of the new leveler may be arranged withbearings of any desirable size or type. because the size of the carrierrolls ll, Figs. 2 and 5, does not depend on the diameter of thestraightening rolls. Consequently, the carrier rolls It may be as largein diameter as required which permits, it necessary, the application ofbearings i2, Fig. 5, several times the diameter of the straighteningrolls. The conveyor type leveler may be made with a minimum number ofsupporting, bands per straightening roll, while it was necessaryheretofore to employa large number of short supporting roll banks toobtain suflicient load carrying capacity and rigidity which constructionobviously is very expensive to build and maintain.

The designs shown are susceptible of change and variation withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention which resides in theapplication of one or more conveyor-like planar supporting means alongthe straightening rolls of roller levelers in order to maintain thestraightening rolls either in straight horizontal position or to deflectthese straightening rolls into any desired working contour.

The scope of the present invention is therefore desired to be restrictedonly by the claims to follow.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, straightening rolls,supports arranged in several series, each series having said supportsinterconnected with each other, said supports having planar surfaces forcontacting with and sustaining the load of each straightening roll,means for rotating said straightening rolls and for successively movingall series of supports past said straightening rolls, further means toraise or lower certain of said moving series of supports with respect tothe other series.

2. In a machine of the character described, straightening rolls, planarsupporting means for backing up said straightening rolls and consistingin supporting plates interconnected to form an endless, planarsupporting band while said supporting plates are in contact with saidstraightening rolls, the adjacent edges of said supporting plates beingat an angle to the axes of said straightening rolls to insure shocklessoperation, means for rotating said straightening rolls and for movingsaid planar supporting means past said straightening rolls, and furthermeans for regulating the speed of said supporting means to cause saidsupporting means to travel at linear speeds substantially identical tothe tangential speeds of said straightening rolls.

3; In a machine of the character described. two banks of straighteningrolls between which the work material passes, means for rotating saidrolls, independent planar supporting means for each bank of rolls,backing means for retaining said independent planar supporting means inengagement with the corresponding banks of rolls, said backing meansbeing stationary with respect to said rolls, means.for moving saidsupporting means longitudinally of each bank of ,rolls and transverse tothe axes of the rolls at the work material passes, means forrotatingsaid rolls, independent planar supporting means for each bank ofrolls. backing means for rethe rolls at surface speeds substantially thesame "as the surface'speed of rotationof said rolls,

and at least one of said supporting means comprising independent planarunits spaced longitudinally of the axes of said rolls and extending 7throughout the length of the bank of rolls supported thereby. V

5. In a machine of the character described, two banks of straighteningrolls between which the work material passes, means for rotating saidrolls, independent planar supporting means for each bank of rolls, meansfor moving said supporting means longitudinally of each bank of rollsand transverse to the axes of the rolls at surface speeds substantiallythe same as the surface speed of rotation of' said rolls, at least oneof said supporting means comprising independent planar units spacedlongitudinally or the axes of said rolls and extending throughout thelength of the bank of rolls supported thereby, and each supporting meanscomprising a series of longitudinally spaced plates having a link chainconnection one with the other to form of each unit supporting means anendless chain-like construction.

6. In a machine of the character described, two banks of straighteningrolls between which the work material passes, means for rotating saidrolls, independent planar supporting means for each bank of rolls, meansfor moving said supporting means longitudinally of each bank of rollsand transverse to the axes of the rolls at surface speeds substantiallythe same as the surface speed of rotation of said rolls, at least one ofsaid supporting means comprising independent planar uni-ts spacedlongitudinally of the axes of said rolls and extending throughout the1ength of the bank of rolls supported thereby, each supporting meanscomprising a series of longitudinally spaced plates having a link chainconnection one with the other to form of each unit supporting means anendless chainlike construction, and each plate of at least one of saidunits having a swivel mounting on its supporting link.

7. In a machine of the class described employing a series of workpieceengaging rolls arranged in close proximity to each other, and inparallel relationship, means for rotating all of said rolls, a supportand backing forsaid rolls, said backing comprising a stationary framepart of the machine, a planar unit movably disposed between the rollsand said frame part, said unit comprising a series of chain rollers,links interconnecting termina1 ends of said rollers to form of saidlinks and rollers an endless chain construction, plates on opposed linksof the chain, plates of adjacent links abutting to form a continuousplanar support engaging all of said rolls, and means for driving saidchain to move the plates when arranged in planar relationship at surfacespeeds substantially the same as the surface speed of rotation of saidrolls.

8. In a machine of the class described employing a series of workpieceengaging rolls arranged in close proximity to each other and in parallelrelationship, means for rotating all of said rolls, a support andbacking for said rolls, said backingcomprising a stationary frame partof the machine, .a planar unit movably disposed between the rolls andsaid frame part. said unit comprising a series of chain rollers linksinterconnecting terminal ends of said rollers to form of said links androllers an endless chain construction, plates on opposed links of thechain, plates of adjacent links abutting to form a continuous planarsupport engaging all of said rolls, means for driving said chain to movethe plates when arranged in planar relationship at surface speedssubstantially the same as the surface speed of rotation of said rolls,and means between said frame part and at least one of the chain rollersfor raising andlowering the planar plates with respect to said rolls.

9. In a machine of the class described employing a series of workpieceengaging rolls arranged in close proximity to each other and in parallelrelationship, means for rotating all of said rolls, a support andbacking for said rolls, said backing comprising a stationary frame partof the machine, a planar unit movably disposed between the rolls andsaid frame part, said unit comprising a series of chain rollers, linksinterconnecting terminal ends of said rollers to form of said links androllers an endless chain construction, plates on opposed links of thechain, plates of adjacent links abutting to form a continuous planarsupport engaging all of said rolls, means for driving said chain to movethe plates when arranged in planar relationship at surface speedssubstantially the same as the surface speed of rotation of said rolls,and said chain rollers having anti-friction mountings in said links.

10. In a machine of the class described employing a series of workpieceengaging rolls arranged in close proximity to each other and in parallelrelationship, means for rotating all of said rolls, a support andbacking for said rolls, said backing comprising a stationary frame partof the machine, a planar unit movably disposed between the rolls andsaid frame part, said unit comprising a series of chain rollers, linksinterconnecting terminal ends of said rollers to form of said links androllers an endless chain construction, plates on opposed links of thechain, plates of adjacent links abutting to form a continuous planarsupport engaging all of said rolls, means for driving said chain to movethe plates when arranged in planar relationship at surface speedssubstantially the same as the surface speed of rotation of said rolls,said chain rollers having anti-friction mountings in said links, and aplurality of said units being arranged longitudinally of the axes ofsaid rolls.

11. In a sheet straightening machine of the character describedemploying upper and lower series, of straightening rolls between whichthe sheet to be straightened is adapted to pass, a support and backingfor each series of rolls, said backing comprising a straight plate-likesurface extending throughout the full length of the series of rolls,said support comprising a plurality of independent and longitudinallyarranged plates with adjacent edges of the plates in abuttingrelationship to each other, means flexibly coupling said plates to forman endless unit, means for driving said unit to move across all of therolls in a series transverse to the axes of the rolls, and meanssupporting the plates of said unit in planar relationship throughout thefull working area of said rolls.

12.'In a sheet straightening machine of the character describedemploying upper and lower series of straightening rolls between whichthe sheet to be straightened is adapted to pass, a support and backingforeaeh series of rolls, said backing comprising a straight plate-likesurface extending throughout the full length of the series of rolls,said support comprising a plurality of independent and longitudinallyarranged plates with adjacent edges of the plates in abuttingrelationship to each other, means flexibly coupling said plates to forman endless unit, means for driving said unit to move across all of therolls in a series transverse to the axes of the rolls, means supportingthe plates of said unit in planar relationship throughout the fullworking area of said rolls, and means involving a variable speed drivefor rotating said rolls to move the surfaces thereof in a directioncommon to the direction of movement of said movable planar support.

13. In a sheet straightening machine of the character describedemploying upper and lower series of straightening rolls between whichthe sheet to be straightened is adapted to pass, a support and backingfor each series of rolls, said backing comprising a straight plate-likesurface extending throughout the full length of the series of rolls,said support comprising a plurality of independent and longitudinallyarranged plates with adjacent edges of the plates in abuttingrelationship to each other, means flexibly coupling said plates to forman endless unit, means for driving said unit to move across all of therolls in a series transverse to the axes of the rolls, means supporting.the plates of said unit in planar relationship throughout the full work-"ing area of said rolls, and a plurality of said units being arrangedlongitudinally of the axes of said rolls.

14. In a sheet straightening machine of the character describedemploying upper and lower series of straightening rolls between whichthe sheet to be straightened is adapted to pass, a

' support and backing for each series of rolls, said backing comprisinga straight plate-like surface extendingthroughout the full length of theseries of rolls, said support comprising a plurality of independent andlongitudinally arranged plates with adjacent edges of the plates inabutting relationship to each other, means flexibly coupling said platesto form an endless unit, means for driving said unit to move across allof the rolls in a series transverse to the axes of the rolls, meanssupporting the plates of said unit in planar relationship throughout thefull working areaof said rolls, each plate of said unit extendingthroughout the major portion of the length of said rolls, and aplurality of link chains for supporting and operating said unit.

15. In a machine of the character described, straightening rolls betweenwhich a work sheet is passed, supporting means for said rolls, saidmeans comprising an endless chain unit movable between a stationary partof the machine and said rolls in a direction at right angles to the axesof the rolls and also in the direction of rotation of the rolls, saidchain comprising large rollers, links connecting terminal ends ofadjacent rollers and plates joining opposed links, said chain beingarranged to provide a planar supporting surface of a plurality ofadjacent plates thereof throughout all of the straightening rollsemployed, and said adjacent plates being arranged in abuttingrelationship to each other to form a substantially continuous planarsurface.

FRIEDRICH K. MAUSSNEST.

